Health care after successful lung cancer surgery

Lungs are the respiratory organs of the human body. If lung cancer occurs, then the treatment of lung cancer is a problem that people are concerned about. At present, there are common treatments for lung cancer, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. According to experts, the effect of surgical treatment is relatively good, but it still depends on the actual situation of the patient. So what should patients pay attention to after surgery? How should we do a good job of postoperative care for lung cancer ?

1. Postoperative care for lung cancer requires adequate oxygen inhalation within 2 days after surgery to prevent postoperative hypoxia. Patients undergoing pneumonectomy or tracheoplasty should be given oxygen at a flow rate of 4 to 6 liters per minute, equivalent to 37% to 45% oxygen concentration; patients undergoing lobectomy or segmentectomy can appropriately lower the oxygen flow rate. If necessary, an assisted ventilator can be used for breathing.

2. Postoperative body position: Patients who are fully awake after general anesthesia should raise the head of the bed by 15-30 degrees to allow the pleural effusion to flow down to the diaphragm. Because the drainage tube lies on the diaphragm, raising the head of the bed is conducive to drainage. On the morning of the first day after surgery, assist the patient to sit up, raise the head of the bed, and put a thin pillow behind the back to make the patient feel comfortable. Because of sitting up and moving, the patient sometimes feels pain and is unwilling to cooperate. Early postoperative activities can not only prevent postoperative complications and benefit the body's recovery, but also facilitate drainage, early extubation, and relieve pain. The body position is 45 degrees to the surgical side, and if necessary, the side position is 10-14 days to prevent mediastinal swing.

3. After waking up from anesthesia, encourage the patient to take deep breaths and expectorate to keep the airway open, and cough up the sputum in the airway in time to prevent atelectasis and pneumonia. If the sputum is thick, atomization (pour the antibacterial and expectorant liquid into a special container, use the impact of oxygen or use an electric device to make the liquid into mist and be inhaled by the patient) can be used to prevent lung infection and provide good postoperative care for lung cancer.

4. Due to the large wound and irritation of the chest drainage tube after the operation, the patient will suffer severe pain. You can use a small amount of analgesics according to the doctor's advice.

5. Keep the patient calm and reduce agitation to minimize oxygen consumption. However, assist the patient to move his limbs and pat his back from bottom to top and from outside to inside to make the sputum cough out smoothly, and prepare for postoperative care of lung cancer.

6. Diet is the most important postoperative care for lung cancer: after waking up from anesthesia, if there is no nausea or vomiting, you can eat liquid food and gradually return to a normal diet.

7. Patients should stay in bed for 1 to 2 weeks after pneumonectomy, but should do more activities in bed to prevent constipation. If constipation occurs, they should contact a doctor for symptomatic treatment and should not force bowel movements. Patients can get out of bed and move around after the closed drainage is removed after lobectomy or segmentectomy to reduce pulmonary complications and the formation of lower limb thrombosis. Pay attention to the training of limb activities on the affected side, such as joint activities and hand-raising exercises.

I hope the above common sense about postoperative care for lung cancer can help everyone. If there is anything you don’t understand after lung cancer surgery, please consult a doctor in time to achieve good care results and alleviate the patient’s pain. I hope that lung cancer patients will recover soon.